Air Force Thunderbirds resume flight training, but won't appear at air shows this year

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform at Dover AFB, Delaware. (Staff photo)

Air show fans hoping a restoration of funding would mean the
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds would soon be returning to the sky will have to
wait until next year to catch a glimpse of the popular flight demonstration
team.

Despite a restoration in funding for flight hours, Air Force
officials said the Thunderbirds won't be appearing at any air shows this year.

The Air Force announced it would use additional
budget flexibility granted by Congress to restore $423 million for flying hours
of combat air forces that had been grounded since April 1 due to sequestration
cutbacks. The flying hours will be allocated to combat aircraft and crews,
including the Thunderbirds, throughout the Air Force.

Those hours are for training and not for air shows, Air
Force officials said.

The restoration of
flying hours only covers the next two and half months, according to Lt. Col.
Greg Moseley, commander of the Thunderbirds. He said the team will resume
training flights with the anticipation of resuming a limited number of aerial demonstrations
next year.

"We have a long road ahead of us and will take it one day at
a time," Moseley said. "This is the first step in safely returning the squadron
to a mission-ready status."

Air Force officials said the return to the sky allows for
training and development crucial for Thunderbirds and other airmen. However,
the leader of the Combat Air Forces' fleet said yesterday the restoration of
funding is the beginning of the process of repairing the sequestration damage.

"Since April we've
been in a precipitous decline with regard to combat readiness," said Gen. Mike
Hostage, Commander of Air Combat Command. "Returning to flying is an important
first step but what we have ahead of us is a measured climb to recovery."

The Air Force also announced the tour length for officers
currently serving with the Thunderbirds will be extended.

Col. Moseley says the decision was difficult but necessary.

"It takes a significant amount of training to get our pilots
qualified to safely execute with the team," Moseley said. "Faced with limited funding in the future, we
have to take every opportunity to ensure we put on a safe demonstration.
Capitalizing on the experience we currently have is the right thing to do from
a safety perspective, and it's the right thing to do from a fiscal
perspective."

The 12 officer positions on the team serve two-year
staggered tours of duty. Four new Thunderbird pilots were announced in April
but the Air Force said they will not be brought on the team and all officers
will serve a third year on the team.